Best Men's Colognes

Best Men's Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I've owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally test out and written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!

10 Best Smelling Chanel Colognes for Men

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Chanel is a French luxury brand that has a long and rich history in women’s fashion dating back to the 1920s. However, their men’s fragrance line is also a force to be reckoned with as just about all of their releases are utterly fantastic and enjoy a broad appeal among cologne enthusiasts.

For this post, I want to put forth 10 of these Chanel fragrances, which I consider to be the best bets of the line. I will update this page, as needed, when new fragrances show up or older ones get discontinued. If you want to see the best Chanel ladies fragrances, click there.

What Are the Best Smelling Chanel Fragrances for Men?

Best Bleu de Chanel

Bleu De Chanel Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 3.4 OZ.– I could have also placed, the Parfum version here, as well. However, the two have plenty of similarities and overlaps, and I go back and forth on the better one.

Bleu de Chanel EDP is warm, rich, and a bit smoky. It is led, though, by the citrus top notes of lemon and grapefruit. It opens up with the citrus and some fresh spicy notes like: pink pepper, mint, and ginger.

I really love the opening act, when the both the citrus notes and spices, are on full blast. Ginger, is the main one, giving Bleu EDP a gentle fresh spiciness. Lemon and grapefruit together, has sort of an orange/lime-like aroma, to it.

Then, BdC EDP, moves into its more smoky amber phase. It’s warm and sweet, with an emerging base consisting of cedar and sandalwood. It’s a very versatile and lovely fragrance to wear.

It’s not super powerful, but it will last for a long time, and get complements from those around you. This is my favorite of the Bleu lineup and won’t be easily topped. Bleu de Chanel EDP Review

Top Unisex Option

Coromandel by Chanel– Coromandel is a scent that I’ve been getting into more lately. There are different variations of this scent: Parfum, EDP, and les Exclusifs. Each is going to give you a slightly different formulation and intensity.

Though, I’m pretty sure les Exclusifs and the older bottles of EDP are the same, at least they smell that way.

Each of them, features an awesome patchouli note, with a warm mix of amber/balsamic/oriental notes (benzoin, frankincense), and a gourmand finish…usually the white chocolate will come through the most. Spicy and warm, especially early on.

The Exclusifs or EDP (whichever is available) tend to be a sweeter formulation with more of an emphasis on the vanilla and white chocolate touches. Meanwhile, the Parfum version feels woodier and denser than the others. Coromandel Review

Ego Boost

Chanel Egoiste– Egoiste got its start in 1987, under a different name. In 1990, it was rebranded under its current title, and has been a classic ever since.

I’ve always gone back and forth as to whether this or Platinum (below) was my favorite Egoiste. However, in the past few years, the original has firmly taken the lead.

It starts off with a bold cinnamon punch. Coriander adds its own additional kick and these two are paired with a light and bright mandarin orange note. Yet, this one is super dry and warm.

Then, you get to the floral middle with a Damask rose and a touch of carnation. The dry down is almost entirely about the sandalwood, cinnamon, and tobacco. Other woods and some vanilla also make an appearance. Absolutely lovely.

For some people, they seem to need to get past that opening before enjoying it. Sure, it’s intense, but it’s one that I’ve grown to love. Egoiste Review

Old School Clean

PLATINUM EGOISTE POUR HOMME BY Chanel  – Classy and masculine. I actually remember hearing about this fragrance for the first time in a Biggie song. Egoiste Platinum is fresh with greenish and floral notes. Very luxurious and versatile for almost any event.

It’s a modern take on a classic men’s fragrance, has an old school barbershop quality to it. In that category, this is one of my favorites. Lavender, sage, geranium, sandalwood, cedar, and amber notes highlight this one.

This is a great example of a floral based fragrance, for men. Sage and rosemary, give it a masculine dose of spice, to counterbalance the soft cleanliness.

Platinum, is at times: green, dry, woody, floral, herbal, and overall fresh. This probably won’t have the mass appeal, of others, but can absolutely be a signature scent for the right guy. Egoiste Platinum Review

egoiste

Best Woodsy Green

Paris – Édimbourg– This is probably my third favorite Les Eaux des Chanel fragrance, but probably the one that will appeal most to men. However, that doesn’t mean that Paris – Édimbourg isn’t a great scent,.

Cypress and juniper are massive here. You are going to get a gin sort of smell from this one. But, it’s so fresh and green, being inspired by the Scottish highlands. The dry down will have more of the vetiver peaking through. It’s all like bright sunlight shining through the trees in a dense forest.

There is also a vanilla note in the base, which adds just a touch of something sweeter. The performance here is decent, but it’s not a projection monster. Edimbourg is a unique one and something that plenty of guys should enjoy.

Citrus, Vanilla, Woods

Allure Homme Edition Blanche by Chanel– Sure, it’s mostly limited to a fragrance for the spring and summer months, and the performance isn’t great. However, Edition Blanche is still one of the best smelling fragrances from Chanel.

It opens up with a sharp lemon note, which will dominate the early stages. You’ve got to be a fan of the citrus, to really enjoy Blanche. Then, you get the vanilla creaminess, to give this one a light dessert feel.

Finally, vetiver and sandalwood give it a dry and fresh scent coming up from the base. Not too complicated of a fragrance, but I really enjoy Allure Edition Blanche, for the summer months.

Most Popular Chanel

Bleu De Chanel for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4oz – Clean blend of citrus notes, such as grapefruit and lemon, along with a woodsy base. Extremely pleasing scent that gets showered with complements from all walks of life.

It’s not as good as the EDP, in my opinion, but does offer a different experience. I do enjoy that minty aroma in the early stages.

The citrus and fresh spicy notes in the EDP are here and have more presence. It’s not as warm or dark, this EDT, is a lighter and less intense wear. That can be a good thing, depending on either your tastes, or the situation you find yourself in. Very fresh, refined, and upbeat. Well worth a try, if you find the EDP to be too ‘thick’.

I think that BdC EDT, is one of those ‘do everything’ type of fragrances. It’s classy enough for a more formal setting, yet has enough attractive appeal, for evening wear. Very well balanced, good performance, and an aroma folks just love.

bleu

Sporty Cool Freshness

ChaneI Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.– I’ve gone back and forth for years between the original Allure Sport and Eau Extreme, but I’m going to give the nod to Eau Extreme here.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme opens up with its fresh herbal and woodsy notes, out in full force. Mint and sage, with the same orange note as the original edition, just toned way down.

Throw in cypress and pepper and you’ve got a fresh kick on top of the already sweet aldehydic Allure Sport body.

The dry down is pretty much the original, with the tonka bean and musk coming up from the base. But, Eau Extreme has the better performance for sure, which Allure Home Sport seems to be lacking in newer bottles. Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Review

Chanel’s Lion

Le Lion de Chanel– The more that I tested this one out, the more that I liked Le Lion de Chanel. It’s not my favorite, nor one that I’d want to wear all of the time. But, I do think that this perfume is worthy of a spot on the list.

This is a unisex scent, that can actually be worn by anyone, so long as you’re into this type of scent. Since it is unique and more niche, that may not be the case.

It opens up with labdanum, amber, and a nice burst of citrus. The first two give this one a warmth and smokiness, that contrasts well with the bergamot and lemon.

It will go from juicy to drier and earthy. It’s got a solid dose of patchouli and almost a leathery quality with how all of the notes come together. Musk, amber, patchouli, smoke. It’s an interesting fragrance to wear.  Le Lion de Chanel Review

Iris Woods

Sycomore by Chanel- This is another one of Chanel’s less mainstream fragrances. However, for the right person, this can absolutely be the best of the bunch.

The iris here is quite powdery, it’s joined early on with an earthiness, spice, and some additional wafts of smokiness. That iris is going to continue to be a factor, along with the vetiver note giving it that smoky finish. Those two are the main event with Sycomore.

There is also a cedar base and some slight sweetness with vanilla peaking in. Drier, leathery, smooth, and a warm woodsy scent.

Keep in mind, this one has different concentrations which become available from time to time, including a parfum. Right now, it’s an EDP, as a part of the Les Exclusifs collection. It’s one that I have a limited experience with, so, I can’t give details on all of the versions.

Also, this is one of their very expensive scents, going for a multiple of what the more mainstream colognes sell for.

Gabrielle Essence EDP by Chanel

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Gabrielle Essence is the follow up release to the popular Gabrielle by Chanel. It came out in 2019 and has enjoyed a good deal of attention itself. I purchased a sample of this scent, with my latest batch, in order to test it out and review it for the site. How does it smell? What’s different? Is it even worth a try?

What does Gabrielle Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine, coconut, peach, citrus

Click here to try: Gabrielle Essence by Chanel Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz / 100 ml (Women) 

My Full Review

Gabrielle Essence opens up much better to my nose versus the original EDP. With that one, it seems harder to distinguish between notes, at first.

Essence doesn’t have the same sparkling brightness as the original, but the fruity notes are better and juicier overall. Not sharp, but smoothed out by the white floral notes, that make up the Gabrielle DNA.

This is a blend of peach and citrus, with a bit of coconut that becomes more noticeable deeper into the wear.

While the fruity opening is better here, it also is shorter lived to my nose. This one gets down to the floral notes rather quickly, but I actually like that phase of Essence.

The main difference with the floral notes for me is, Essence has a stronger emphasis on orange blossom and jasmine, at first. With the EDP, it was jasmine and tuberose. The tuberose in Gabrielle Essence doesn’t play that big of a role.

Eventually, the jasmine, orange blossom, and ylang-ylang are sharing most of the duties. That’s what I get for most of the rest of the wear. It’s a bit sweet and has a nice, but not thick creaminess about it.

Light musk and woodiness, at the base, but this is mostly all about those floral notes. Nothing overly complicated, just a variation of what you’d expect.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage with Gabrielle Essence is pretty moderate. It does project itself better than the original, but it isn’t a massive difference. Not super powerful and dries down fairly softly.

There will be a scent trail left behind you for that first hour or so. After that, it’s going to be more noticeable in a 3-4 foot radius from where you’ve sprayed Gabrielle Essence on.

I also get just over 8 hours of wear on my skin with Essence. Yes, it stays as a skin scent for a good chunk of that time, but it is still there…just not in full force. That’s about what it consistently seems to be. Maybe it’ll get to 9 hours, at times.

Seasonally, it’s at its peak in the spring. Summer and autumn are great, but the spring is where the Gabrielle perfumes shine. In the warmer air, this Chanel really hangs beautifully and you catch whiffs of the full floral array.

Gabrielle Essence is a versatile daily wear, just like the original. It isn’t super formal and can actually serve better as a casual or semi-formal scent. It’s a lovely and attractive scent, just not a super sexy club beast.

Overall Impressions of Gabrielle Essence

Overall, do I like Gabrielle Essence? I really do. It’s a beautiful perfume and better than the original (which I liked). Essence is a very well balanced and well put together floral. The fruity opening is great, without being over the top.

Also, I like how the floral notes are weighted in this one when compared to the original. It’s performance is a bit better, but that could’ve been bumped up somewhat. It’s not bad, by any means, just not outstanding. Both longevity and power are above average, however.

This is more than just a solid entry from Chanel. One that does everything well and has the versatility to become a daily wear for many women. More modern than some of their past releases, even if it’s not entirely unique.

It’s not their absolute best, but I enjoy what they’ve done with this Gabrielle series so far, and Essence in particular.

10 Best Giorgio Armani Colognes for Men

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Armani has a fantastic line of fragrances for both men and women, that have their own unique style and impression. Two of the colognes for men, Armani Code and Acqua Di Gio, have been best-sellers and very popular with both men and their women for years now.

However, there are other Armani colognes that are really great that don’t get the same amount of attention as those two. For this list, I wanted to explore ten of the best Armani scents, of both new and old. Also see: The Top Armani Perfumes for Women

Favorite Armani Fragrances for Him

Enveloping Winter Warmth

Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce– Code Profumo was the best flanker fragrance, that has stemmed from the original Code moniker.

That’s changed, in my opinion, but I do still love this one. It is sweet, warm, and a magnificent wear for the colder months of the year.

Profumo opens up with tonka bean and amber. Then is quickly followed up by the inclusion of mandarin orange, herbal notes, and rich leather. Smooth and creamy on the dry down. If you want a spicier and boozier version, go with Absolu.

Code Profumo has a strong sillage and lasts on my skin for over 10 hours, most of the time. A very good and highly intriguing winter wear for guys. Code Profumo Review

Deeper, Darker Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Update: They’ve basically discontinued Profumo under this name. Now, Acqua di Gio Parfum is essentially just this rebranded.

To me, it can be a toss up between this and Profondo. Profumo is a darker scent, while Profondo is a lighter and has a zesty sort of personality.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor. Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

Unisex Floral Leather

Cuir Zerzura– Zerzura is a part of the expensive Privee line from Armani. This one is great, as it leans masculine and delivers a great and deep floral scent.

Iris is the main floral note, with some rose and light violet leaf early on. The main attractions though are the iris, leather, and vanilla notes.

Early on, you will get a brightness of mandarin and elemi. Though, that is short-lived and this becomes rich and has an enveloping smoothness and warmth. The contrast between the leather, the creaminess, and the powdery aroma of the iris note.

Not too sweet or overpowering. I think that Armani struck a very good balance between that iris and the leather without falling too much into make-up bag territory. Lovely stuff.

Newer Code

Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani– This will be one of three Code entries onto the list. It was released in 2022 and I was surprised at how good it was.

Code Parfum kicks off with the usually bergamot note, paired with sage and iris. The bergamot is sparkling and this one has a great opening freshness to it. It’s sort of bright and aldehydic with the way the iris is worked into things.

There is some powderiness, not too much, and not as much as you’d think with both iris and tonka bean coming through. Those two notes are heavily featured in the dry down along with the remaining citrus and a crisp cedar.

It’s a clean daily wear that can fit in a wide variety of situations. Code Parfum is going to be one of those workhorse fragrances, that you can spray on pretty much whenever, but it has plenty of style. Code Parfum review

Sweet, Woody, Unique

Giorgio Armani Cologne for Men, Armani Diamonds, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
At its base, Emporio Armani Diamonds is woody and spicy. At the top, you have cocoa bean and bergamot leading the way, with a heart of amber.

The citrus and cacao combination is beautifully done and feels wrapped up in that warm and familiar amber note. I really like the bergamot that comes out of the early stages, along with the initial spiciness that will be such a factor in the middle.

The bergamot is most noticeable at the start and gradually it all dries down into a woody cologne with sweet cocoa and hints of sichuan pepper (just not much). Coming back to this one recently, the amber note really developed well, in a way I hadn’t remembered.

At that point, the aroma is quite dry, but overall it remains light and none too heavy. Fresh, sweet, with good longevity.  Notes include: Citrus, Bergamot, Cedar, Szechwan Pepper, Gaiac Wood, Ambroxan, Vetiver, Cocoa Bean. Diamonds Review

emporio diamonds

Bluer Citrus Aquatic

Acqua di Gio Profondo– This newer release is replacing the original AdG, which really feels unnecessary to have at this time. It has been surpassed by flankers like this and there are cheaper options, that smell pretty much the same.

Profondo has plenty of overlap with Profumo, but as I said, there are slight differences. This is the lighter and has a zestier/blue vibe, versus the deep water aroma of Profumo.

Anyway, Profondo kicks off with a blend of citrus notes, with a solid freshness and spice provided by the rosemary. This doesn’t smell as smoky to me, either.

Much more of a fruity and blue aquatic, on the lines of maybe a Polo Blue, versus the other colognes in this series. Profondo Full Review

Classic Armani Release

Mania By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
A sophisticated blend of woodsy aromatics and mandarin oranges. The opening is bright and upbeat with that mandarin note and saffron poking through.

There still aren’t too many men’s fragrances utilizing saffron, but it can be utterly brilliant, as it is here.

Mania is pretty simple, with dry elements, wood, amber, and a nice citrus shining through. You have to get this one online, nowadays, as Armani no longer produces it. Highly masculine and a full bodied scent that will drive ladies wild, when close.

Update: It’s been discontinued for a long while. Probably difficult to find a cheap bottle. So, pass on it if the price is in the triple digits.

Note: Dua brand has their fragrance: Arena, which is based on this formula.

mania

A Stronger With You Option

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely EDP For Men 3.4oz– The original Stronger with You was pretty nice, but not something that I’d consider one of Armani’s best. However, I think that Intensely is a better option than that, and worthy of a spot for this update.

Stronger with You Intensely does indeed ramp up the power of the original, within a sweeter frame, and delicious gourmand aroma.

Sage, cinnamon, and pink pepper add the layer of spice but it really isn’t a completely thick cloud of fragrance…but very much a colder weather wear.

I like this and as of now, it takes the spot as my favorite cologne from this line. Yes, Absolutely is up there as well. For me, this has the slight edge between them. Here’s my review of Intensely and my comparison with SWY Absolutely

I also think that SWY Leather is right up there at the top between these two. That’s more of a limited edition, so, it can be more difficult to find than these two.

Stylish Stand Out

Armani Attitude By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Oz– Attitude is a fitting name, because this one is bold, and can pack a punch.

Not that it is overly heavy, but this was one that could grab attention (it has been discontinued, as well, still bottles available online ). Note: Dua has their inspired by version: #Attitude available for cheap, if you can’t find this.

You had coffee and lemon, with notes like lavender and patchouli. All in all, it could be hard to distinguish between them, as it is so well blended. That’s perfectly fine, because the result was awesome, quite sexy, and could be a complement magnet.

attitude

The Best Armani Code

Armani Code Absolu– I am replacing the original Code on the list, as it has been surpassed by too many other offerings. Initially, Code Profumo was my favorite of the line. However, that all changed with the release of Absolu, which is the best of the bunch.

It kicks off with rum, suede, nutmeg, and tonka bean. There are the light fruit notes of mandarin and apple, floating in the background, as they do in all of the Code scents.

I really enjoy the kick and booziness provided by the nutmeg and rum, with the leather-like smoothness of suede.

It’s dark and warm, with a great sweetness during the dry down. A lighter option versus Profumo, not as cloying, but still delivers over 10 hours of wear. Code Absolu Review

11 Best Smelling Bond No. 9 Perfumes

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After I wrote my post for the best Bond No. 9 fragrances for men, it became clear that I would have to do one for women as well.

The New York boutique house has even a larger selection of perfumes for women, so the task of cutting them down became even more difficult, so don’t freak if your favorite scent isn’t on here.

I narrowed it down to what I consider to be the ten best smelling Bond No. 9 perfumes for ladies and I think there is something on here for everyone to enjoy. Plus, I will link to my full review of each individual fragrance, as I write them.

Also, check out the men’s list because there are some unisex scents on there that are great as well.

Other posts to check out: Sexiest Women’s Perfumes, Top Smelling Ladies Fragrances

What are the Best Perfumes for Her by Bond No. 9?

Awesome Clean Daily Wear

Bond No. 9 The Scent Of Peace Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fluid Ounce– A clean fragrance based on citrus notes whose airy aroma will have people wanting more. It opens with a blend of grapefruit and black currant, creating a juicy fruit-laced vibe that has a similar effect to D&G Light Blue, but better in my opinion.

The Scent of Peace is extremely bright and pleasant perfume, that constantly had me sniffing my arm during my testing of it.

Later on in the wear, lily and cedar note emerge among other florals, to create a green outdoorsy aroma. This second layer is in complement to the beautiful fruit top notes.

The Scent of Peace has light to moderate sillage with a solid longevity of around 7 hours, on my skin, at least. It utterly screams spring/summer, with it’s pretty composition, and the sweetness doesn’t have that ‘teenager perfume’ intensity. It’s refined yet playful.

Notes include: Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Cedarwood, Hedione, Musk, Lily of the Valley. Read my Scent of Peace Review

scent of peace

Night on the Town

New York Nights by Bond No.9– New York Nights is one from Bond that I didn’t try out for a long time, but it quickly became an absolute favorite of mine.

Gardenia, caramel, and aquatic notes start things off here. Strange combo? Maybe, but it’s great. Smooth, sweet, with a freshness/saltiness.

I get a spiciness from carnation and patchouli, especially as this one transitions into being more of a standard floral with the gardenia and jasmine notes. The aquatic notes fade away, the caramel loses some steam, and you get more sandalwood and patchouli.

It’s not one that everyone will love, but it seems to have plenty of fans and I think it’s worth trying out. New York Nights review

Most Popular/Best Seller

Chinatown New York by Bond No.9 For Womens Eau De Parfume 3.3 oz– A spice laden perfume which is further blended together but floral and fruity notes to evoke the experience of Chinatown.

It opens with a white floral twosome of tuberose and gardenia, that is balanced out a top note of bergamot citrus and peach blossom, which prevents it from having that super floral quality.

The cardamom really sets Chinatown apart from many other perfumes and adds a layer of depth, that takes it to another level of attractiveness.

This Bond No. 9 perfume is best in the cooler months of the year through springtime. The heat doesn’t really do it any service. However, the rest of the time, Chinatown could be a signature scent for a lot of women.

Notes include: Bergamot, Peach Blossom, Guaiac Wood Gardenia, Cardamom, Vanilla, Tuberose, Peony, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Orange Flower, Cedarwood.  Chinatown Full Review

chinatown

Gorgeous Jasmine Gourmand

Tribeca by Bond No. 9– This one has become very popular since its release, a few years back. It gets attention for its similarities to Baccarat Rouge 540, but they are ultimately fairly different perfumes.

This one has a great blend of caramel, cacao, and hazelnut. Mainly, the nutty accord and more of the caramel versus a chocolate smell. Tribeca is warm and creamy, but isn’t a heavy fragrance, as it kind of hangs gently in the air around you.

Next, the jasmine will really come into play. A very beautiful rendition of the flower, joined by a potent ambroxan note, that doesn’t feel annoying. The dry down is kind of woody/mossy, but it’s mostly about the jasmine.

The initial sweet notes are still there, just not with the same intensity.

Fruity, Aquatic, Rose

Bond No. 9 Gold Coast for Women Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Gold Coast is a fantastic and somewhat newer release from Bond No. 9. As a spring and summertime wear, Gold Coast is a fresh and semi-aquatic fragrance with juicy notes, such as watermelon.

Lychee and apple add a further crispness to the scent, before the rose note really starts to move in. The lychee and watermelon are the strongest of the fruity notes and it feels more like a fruity/floral.

It’s clean, light, and fresh with a bit of vanilla creaminess coming through the base.

The final stage is a sandalwood and musk infused rose note, with the remaining fruitiness still coming through. Very nice wear and well worth a try.

Great Casual Springtime Perfume

BOND NO.9 ASTOR PLACE EDP SPRAY 3.3 OZ– Smart, pretty, and unique. Astor Place delivers as a go to fragrance for women who like floral notes that don’t overpower but do perform.

It features a zesty bit of mandarin orange as the top note, which sits on top of the floral composition made up mainly of: violet leaf, freesia, and red poppy.

The florals really dominate the first few hours of the wear, before the scent turns more musky and woody with the teak note, but the freesia seems to stick around the most. Astor Place is a low key fragrance in terms of its projection, but is one that will last around 8 hours.

It has an upbeat feel and great for casual or everyday wear. Notes include: Amber, Mandarin, Violet Leaf, Teakwood, Iris root, Freesia, Musk, Red Poppy. Full Astor Place Review

astor place

Nights with a Spice

Chelsea Nights by Bond No. 9– Another one like Tribeca, that starts out with cacao and hazelnut. This time, the cacao is stronger, and it for sure goes in a different direction than its compatriot.

Chelsea Nights isn’t a sugary chocolate bar, though. It’s got great touches of saffron, oud, a light rose, and myrrh. Yes, it’s sweet but it has a cinnamon sort of kick that comes through, warmth, a bit of smokiness floating underneath.

The end has a good deal of suede and vanilla. It has settled down in terms of both spiciness and sweetness. Smoother and creamy. Chelsea Nights hits so many different levels with its depth and is well worth checking out.

Garden Greenish Floral

Bond No. 9 Madison Square Park By Bond No. 9 For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz– A light and crisp floral which comes in the cool, hot pink bottle.

An airy fragrance yet long-lasting perfume, Madison Square Park,  is at times grassy, blueberry-laden, and then rose dominant.

It really does have the sensation of a day in the park, in that it is green, with that light aroma of flowers in the air.

Bond has released several bouquet or greenish floral perfumes and this is one of the best. Others like the I Love New York Marriage perfume, was too much for my nose. Way too green and not as balanced as Madison Square Park.

Notes include: hyacinth, rose, blueberry, grass, vetiver, and more.

madison square park

Bold Powdery Rose

Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz– Energetic and exotic are two words which come to mind when describing Broadway Nite. A very floral scent that starts out with the heliotrope, rose, and rose notes.

This is joined by an undercurrent of vanilla and musk. Vanilla, musk, and iris are of course going to create a pretty powdery aroma. As such, if you’re not a big fan of florals or powdery scents, probably stay away from Broadway Nite.

This is more of a niche sort of perfume than the others on the list. Still has its fans, but not for everyone. Notes include: Rose, Honeysuckle, Iris, Aldehyde, Green Violet, Cedarwood, Musk, Sweet Amber, Heliotrope, Vanilla Beans. My Full Review

broadway nite review

Awesome Fresh Gourmand

Greenwich Village by Bond No. 9– Greenwich Village is a great release from Bond and one of the best that they’ve put out over the past few years.

This one starts out with a fresh fruitiness, with a somewhat tropical aroma. Lychee and mandarin orange with a bit of watery/aquatic feeling from the waterlily note. Cassis is also present up top. It’s both fresh and sweet.

The dry down gets warmer with praline, vanilla, and musk. The latter stages give you a nice creamy gourmand perfume.

Greenwich Village has a sugary vibe to it at times, but also a floral heart and a really fresh kind of scent…all at the same time. Very interesting, nice performance, but not super powerful.

Cold Weather Gourmand

BOND No 9 Nuits De Noho, 3.4 Ounce– A complex and seductive scent that can add a great deal of sophistication to a woman’s style. Nuits de Noho opens with a pineapple and vanilla mix that sits in the middle of a patchouli wrapping.

It’s gourmand and has a sweet, baked goods sort of quality to the aroma. The patchouli and musk are pretty strong for the first 15 minutes or so before, this Bond No. 9 perfume settles itself into something sweeter and gentler.

To me, the floral notes like jasmine, are powdery and green but mostly stay in the background to only come out a brief whiffs.

This has a lot of similarities to something such as, Angel by Thierry Mugler. Nuits de Noho is more suited towards colder weather.

Notes include: Mandarin, Pineapple Leaves, Bergamot, Rosewood, Grey Musk, Vanilla, Patchouli, Jasmine. Nuits de Noho Full Review

nuits

Azzaro Wanted vs. Dior Sauvage Comparison

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Dior’s Sauvage has become an absolutely monstrous best seller, since its release, five or so years back. Because of this, it often gets compared to many other fragrances, that men are looking to buy. Azzaro Wanted, was released a few years after, and has enjoyed its own limited popularity. Which one is better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Wanted vs Sauvage EDT

Sauvage EDT

Notes include: Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, lavender, pink pepper, and more

Click here to try: Sauvage by Chrisitan Dior Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Sauvage EDT Review

Azzaro Wanted

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Azzaro Wanted

Opening

Sauvage EDT starts off with a mix of spicy Sichuan pepper and a sharp bergamot citrus note. It’s a pretty intense start, that is calmed by the later emergence of ambroxan and lavender.

Meanwhile, Azzaro Wanted begins with ginger, mint, lemon, and woods. It’s got a warm and very sweet aroma. There’s a thick and enveloping quality to Wanted. Cardamom and tonka bean come in and give the cologne that thick and sweet scent.

Which is better? I’m actually not too crazy about how either one of these fragrances starts. However, I do prefer the Sauvage opening. It is pretty strong, but it is much more preferable, versus the really sweet, slightly spicy, and huge lemon note of Wanted.

Edge: Sauvage

Projection

Sauvage and Wanted start off as strong fragrances. I’d say that Sauvage has the better sillage, up top. Both do grow less powerful, a few hours in, but Sauvage has the better projection throughout. Wanted becomes much more moderate.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

After trying out both of these colognes, many times, there doesn’t seem to be any difference in terms of how long they last. On my skin, I get in the 7-9 hour range for both, depending on the climate that day. Neither are elite, but both scents perform quite well.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents can be very versatile. They can go casual, nightlife, and maybe to work depending on personal circumstances.

I think that Sauvage holds up better, in a wider variety of climates, and has a slightly more mature vibe.  Wanted can come across as too sharp/sweet, for certain applications.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

Wanted by Azzaro, is a pretty good cologne, in my book. I really don’t like how it starts off, as it smells way too sharp for my nose. However, later on in the wear, I do enjoy the blend of tonka bean and wood. The sweetness is smoother and less of a bother. Plus, the performance is solid.

Sauvage EDT has never wowed me, but I like it. I especially like it more than Wanted. If I had a choice, I’d go with Sauvage EDP or Parfum, before wearing the original.

However, between these two specific options, I’ll take Sauvage EDT for sure.

Update: Coming back to this post years later, the subsequent Wanted releases have all been better than the original. The Most Wanted and The Most Wanted Parfum are two that I’d pick before Sauvage EDT or Wanted.

Really, it’s a toss up between The Most Wanted and Sauvage EDP for me. I’d probably go with the Dior, but the Azzaro is a better value. You might also want to try a cheap alternative to Dior Sauvage.

Winner: Sauvage